STAND. COM. REP. NO 127

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 520

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 520 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POLICE COMMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the composition of the county police commissions to require that three commissioners on each police commission be the Executive Director of the State Commission on the Status of Women, Executive Director of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, and an individual with prior experience in law enforcement.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women Hawaii, Domestic Violence Action Center, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the protection of women's rights and individual civil rights, which are vital to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, is an issue of statewide concern.  The county police commissions, who oversee the conduct of the county police departments and officers, have tremendous influence in shaping and directing the policies intended to protect women's rights and individual civil rights.  Therefore, it is important that the county police commissions include members who are experienced in law enforcement and have backgrounds in the protection of women's rights and individual civil rights.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 520 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair